Finance Manager

Chosen Hill School; Bradley Stoke; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Chosen Hill School is seeking an ambitious Finance Manager to lead the school's financial operations and support strategic decision-making. This role works closely with the Business Manager, Senior Leadership Team and Governors to manage budgeting, accounts, statutory returns and reporting.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience in education finance, strong forecasting and analytical abilities, and the leadership skills to build effective relationships across the school

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or holds a higher accounting qualification.
• Significant experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting.
• Strong management accounting and forecasting skills.
• Confidently produce and interpret financial information for a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrates strong leadership, organisational and communication skills.
• Builds positive working relationships across the school community.
• Experience within the education sector is welcomed but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the school's financial management systems and processes.
• Oversee annual budget planning, management accounts, statutory returns, and audit processes.
• Provide high-quality financial insight and analysis to support decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Business Manager, SLT and Governors.
• Support the evolution of finance as the school grows and transitions leadership.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting & reporting

Management accounting

Forecasting

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication

Education

AAT qualification

Higher accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA/CIMA/CPA)

Job description

At Chosen Hill School, finance is about far more than balancing budgets. It is about ensuring that every financial decision helps create opportunities for young people to thrive.

We are seeking an ambitious and highly skilled Finance Manager to lead the School's financial operations and play a key role in supporting strategic decision-making. This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified accounting professional who is looking to apply their expertise within a successful and values-driven organisation, where their work will have a direct impact on students' education and future outcomes. You will be joining the school at a time when this key Finance role will evolve, with the changing requirements of the DfE, the development of the school and it’s staff.

Working closely with the Business Manager, Senior Leadership Team and Governors, you will take responsibility for the school's financial management systems, annual budget planning, management accounts, statutory returns, audit processes and financial reporting. You will provide high-quality financial insight and analysis that supports informed decision-making across the organisation.

With the school continuing to grow and develop, regulatory expectations becoming increasingly sophisticated, and a forthcoming transition within the senior business leadership team, this role presents an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to make a lasting impact and develop their career within education.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is AAT qualified or holds a higher accounting qualification
• Has significant experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting
• Possesses strong management accounting and forecasting skills
• Can confidently produce and interpret financial information for a range of stakeholders
• Has excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrates strong leadership, organisational and communication skills
• Can build positive working relationships across the school community
• Experience within the education sector is welcomed but not essential.

Why Chosen Hill School?

Chosen Hill School is a thriving and highly successful comprehensive academy, judged Good by Ofsted in all categories. Situated between Gloucester and Cheltenham, we serve approximately 1,400 students, including over 200 students in the Sixth Form.

We are proud of our reputation as a welcoming and supportive community where staff, students and families work together with trust, respect and high expectations. This role offers the opportunity to become part of a school that values professional expertise and recognises the importance of strong financial leadership in delivering exceptional educational outcomes.